Method for producing decorations on an object and resulting object

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a method for producing decorations on an object by machining a multilayer structure ( 1 ) which consists in machining at various depths a complex consisting of an assembly of materials which are different in particular in shade and/or colour, the multilayer structure ( 1 ) being made up of an arrangement of bars ( 2 ) with polygonal cross-section, and varied shades and/or colours. The method consists in machining said multilayer structure ( 1 ) with one or several turning processes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for producing decorations onan object through machining a complex, and an object obtained throughsaid method.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

There are already known methods for producing decorations on an objectthrough machining a complex formed by assembling different elements,namely made of wood, which consist, in a first stage, of manufacturingsuch a complex by performing a superposition of layers of elements ofdifferent shades and/or colors, and eventually of a varying thickness,then in machining said so obtained complex according to variable depths,in order to cause variable relief patterns and geometrical shapes toappear, depending on the layer or layers involved by the machining andon the way the machining is carried out.

These methods are however limited as regards the decoration effectsachieved. They are namely aimed at manufacturing walls, where variableconcentric shapes are achieved through varying the machining depth; sucha method is disclosed, for example, in FR 2,700,500.

DE 31 42 446 also provides a similar method; in addition, it provides aprocess consisting in sculpting a cylindrical block comprisingconcentric layers.

From U.S. Pat. No. 1,994,204 is also known a method for producingmosaics, consisting in manufacturing a block through assembling barshaving a rectangular cross-section, then in cutting said block accordingto a plane non-parallel to those in which said bars are assembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producingdecorations on an object through machining a complex of the type asabove-mentioned, and which allows achieving decoration effects of anovel type.

The method for producing decorations on an object through machining acomplex is of the type consisting in carrying out the machining atvariable depths of a complex consisting of an assembly of materials thatdiffer from each other namely as regards their shade and/or their color,said complex consisting of an arrangement of bars having a polygonalcross-section and variable shades and/or colors, and it is characterizedin that it consists in machining said complex by means of one or severalturning operations.

Turning allows achieving highly variable, but homogenous and alsosymmetric patterns when the complex is properly centered during theturning operation. Less uniform shapes can however be created by causingsaid complex to be off-center.

According to an additional feature of the process according to theinvention, the complex consists of an assembly of bars made of wood ofvariable species.

By using different and variable species, thus of different shades andeven colors, and by assembling them at random or by arranging them in anaccurate way, carrying out the turning allows achieving particulargeometrical shapes.

According to another additional feature of the process according to theinvention, the complex consists of an assembly of bars made out of oneor several plastic materials.

The plastic material or materials are used namely for the countlesspossibilities of varying their colors.

According to another additional feature of the process according to theinvention, the complex consists of an assembly of bars made out ofmaterials of various kinds.

It is possible to manufacture a complex from different materials whilecomplying with determined criteria, in order to avoid namely adeterioration of the assembly in the course of time, for example due todifferent coefficients of expansion. Furthermore, one should avoidmixing hard materials with soft materials, such an assembly being likelynot to be capable of being machined in a satisfactorily way.

It should be noted that an interesting esthetical result is achieved bymixing transparent plastic materials with opaque materials such as forexample wood.

According to another additional feature of the process according to theinvention, the complex consists of an assembly of bars of differenttransversal dimensions.

It is possibly to vary the transversal dimensions of the bars, providedhowever that they are arranged without leaving any gap.

According to another additional feature of the process according to theinvention, the complex consists of an assembly of bars of differentpolygonal cross-sections.

The bars do not compulsorily have the same polygonal cross-section, suchas a square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal cross-section; by way ofan example, a complex may thus be formed by the arrangement of bars witha square and rectangular cross-section, or with an octagonal and squarecross-section.

The advantages and the features of the process according to theinvention will clearly appear from the following description, withreference to the attached drawing showing a non-restrictive embodimentof it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the attached drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one step of the process forproducing decorations on an object through machining according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an object produced by meansof the process according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

When referring to FIG. 1, one can see a complex 1 produced by assemblingbars 2 with a square cross-section, made integral with each otherthrough appropriate means, for example through a gluing operation.

In this embodiment, the bars 2 are of two different shades and arearranged alternately, so as to form lines in the longitudinal directionand a check in cross-section. Of course, many arrangements are possible,by modifying the shades and/or the colors of the bars 2, by modifyingthe shapes of the bars 2, and through the arrangement of the latter inthe complex 1.

When referring now to FIG. 2, one can see a portion of an object 3produced through turning a complex 1 made through arranging identicalbars with a square cross-section, but of different shades.

It can be seen that, according to the machining depth, differentpatterns are achieved. Moreover, turning allows producing, in additionto the rounded shapes that are achieved in a well-known way, symmetricaldecorations that have harmonious roundnesses.

It will be understood that, through a different arrangement of the bars2, i.e. for example a non-symmetric arrangement, it is possible tocreate patterns with original shapes.

The process according to the invention is aimed at producing numerousobjects in the field of furniture, such as, in a non-restrictive way,table and chair feet, lamp stands, etc.

The process according to the invention advantageously allows producingoriginal parts that are different from any other, simply by changing thelocation of the bars 2 within the complex 1, and/or by changing themachining, whether in shape or in depth.

1. A method of producing a decorative exterior surface on an objectcomprising: assembling a plurality of bars in side-by-side relationshipand in bottom-to-top relationship so as to form a generally longitudinalobject, said plurality of bars being of similar dimensions and arrangedentirely through the longitudinal object, at least some of saidplurality of bars being of different shades of color, each of saidplurality of bars being of a polygonal cross-sectional, each of saidplurality of bars having a thickness dimension substantially equal to awidth dimension; adhering said plurality of bars together; and machiningthe object at variable depths by at least one turning operation.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, said plurality of bars being of different species ofwood.
 3. The method of claim 1, said plurality of bars being of apolymeric material.
 4. The method of claim 1, said plurality of barsbeing of different types of material.